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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Biofuel

I look back with a hint of melancholy on some periods during my 41-year career at KLM. The year 2009, for example. Back then I was working as a test engineer at Engineering and Maintenance (E&M). A team of colleagues from various departments was working enthusiastically and especially hard preparing for the very first KLM flight powered by biofuel.

That first flight, operated using Boeing 747-400 equipment, was a demonstration flight above the Netherlands. In terms of preparation not an easy job given considerations related to technology, logistics and legislation and regulations. Before its take-off on 23 November 2009, this partially driven biofuel flight enjoyed broad-based support.

And although biofuel flights are now more or less commonplace and CSR is firmly rooted in KLM and other companies, I’m regularly asked questions about biofuel flights. So I’ve gathered up 10 of them, along with the answers, in this blog.

Engineering Project Team

What is biofuel produced from?

Biofuel is produced from renewable feedstock such as plant oils, agricultural waste and wood chips instead of fossil fuels.

How do biofuel and biodiversy go together?

KLM only uses sustainable feedstock for its biofuel. That doesn’t have a negative impact on biodiversity or local food security for that matter.

What are the CO2 benefits of biofuel?

CO2 benefits depend on the feedstock and logistics.
Camelina is a plant that grows on Mediterranean soil with little to no fertility and has no negative effects on the production of nearby crops. It can reduce CO2 to about 70% compared to fossil kerosene. And compared to used cooking oil to about 80%.

When was biofuel first used on a commercial flight?

Biofuel was certified for aviation in 2011 and KLM was the first airline to fly with biofuel on a commercial flight. The biofuel was supplied by SkyNRG, a Dutch company established by KLM and others, which is now the market leader in providing sustainable jet fuel.

Do other forms of transport use biofuel?

Biofuels for transport have been around as long as cars have. At the start of the 20th century, car manufacturer Henry Ford planned to fuel his Model Ts with ethanol, and early diesel engines were shown to run on peanut oil.

Is biofuel expensive?

The price of sustainable biofuel has dropped from six times the price of fossil kerosene to two to three times since 2012. To be able to develop a market and purchase this biofuel, KLM is supported financially by multinationals like Heineken, Accenture, ABN AMRO and Friesland Campina through the KLM Corporate BioFuel programme.

How is biofuel supplied?

Oslo Airport Gardermoen was the first airport to add biofuel to its existing fuelling system at the beginning of 2016. Until then, biofuel had to be supplied by separate tank trucks.

Are there flights that use 100% biofuel?

It’s not yet possible to operate flights using 100% biofuel. Due to aviation’s strict quality guidelines, biofuels are always mixed with conventional fossil kerosene to a maximum of 50%.

Do engines need adjustment when using biofuel?

Biofuel is a so-called “drop-in” fuel? This means you can simply add it to fossil kerosene and use it without any adjustments to the engines.

Does KLM use biofuel on all flights?

No, not yet all KLM flights world-wide. But KLM did start using biofuel on all flights from Los Angeles this year and will do so for the next three years. This fuel is supplied by SkyNRG from the new Los Angeles-based bio refinery AltAir Fuels.

walter fokkens

Erik Selin

Rob Duivis

2 years ago

Eric,

Depending on the energy-content of the fuel used, there is a modest effect on the fuel lconsumption with the blends used so far.
The effects are also limited by the fact that we fly with a 50-50 blend.
One thing is proven however; there is no increase in fuelconsumption due to the use of biofuels.